U.S. patent number 4,186,388 [Application Number 05/852,830] was granted by the patent office on 1980-01-29 for proximity detector.
Invention is credited to Donald W. Robinson.
United States Patent |
4,186,388 |
Robinson |
January 29, 1980 |
Proximity detector
Abstract
A proximity detector preferably utilizes a photoelectric cell,
responsive to light beams emanating from a lamp carried by a tripod
supported light projecting apparatus. Such apparatus includes a
height adjustment utilizing a telescoping pair of tubes, one of
which is supported by three tripod legs, each of which is
adjustable in height. The lowermost regions of the tripod legs
carry lockable wheels. The tubes are calibrated together with one
another and indicate the total height of the light source utilizing
a calibrated scale. The housing carrying the light source may be
tiltable and locked into such position by a set screw arrangement.
A filter may be utilized so as to provide polarized light beams or
colored light beams, as desired. Another housing, equivalent to the
housing utilized to carry the light source, encloses a
photoelectric cell and a timer. When the light beam is interrupted
feeding the photoelectric cell, the timer stops to operate and
simultaneously an audible and visual alarm is sounded. A power
supply is utilized having rechargeable batteries converted for
recharging utilizing household utility voltage therefor.
Inventors: |
Robinson; Donald W. (Crown
Point, IN) |
Family
ID: |
25314330 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/852,830 |
Filed: |
November 18, 1977 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/556; 250/221;
340/323R; 340/539.1; 340/539.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63K
3/02 (20130101); F16M 11/42 (20130101); G01V
8/20 (20130101); F16M 11/08 (20130101); F16M
11/18 (20130101); F16M 11/34 (20130101); F16M
2200/027 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63K
3/02 (20060101); A63K 3/00 (20060101); F16M
11/00 (20060101); F16M 11/32 (20060101); F16M
11/20 (20060101); F16M 11/42 (20060101); G01V
8/20 (20060101); G01V 8/10 (20060101); A63K
001/00 (); G01T 001/16 (); G08B 023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/309.1,323,555,556,557,539 ;356/3,18 ;272/4,5,100,103,DIG.5
;250/221 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell, Sr.; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Nowicki; Joseph E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Farkas; Robert D.
Claims
The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or
property is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A proximity detector comprising a light transmitting apparatus
and a light receiving apparatus, said light transmitting apparatus
including a housing assembly, said housing assembly including a
housing and a tripod and indicia, said tripod providing support for
said housing, the lowermost regions of said tripod having lockable
wheels rotatably secured thereto disposed upon a supporting
surface, said housing being elevated relative to the uppermost
regions of said tripod, said tripod being adjustable in height,
means to rotatably secure said housing with respect to said tripod
about a first axis including means to releasably lock said housing
against rotation about said first axis, means to rotatably secure
said housing with respect to a second axis including means to
releasably lock said housing against rotation about said second
axis, said second axis disposed orthogonal to said first axis, said
indicia indicating the elevation of said housing relative to said
uppermost regions, said light transmission apparatus including a
light source and a radio receiver and a first power supply and an
alarm group of devices, said alarm group including a visual alarm
and an audible alarm, said first power supply coupled to said light
source and said radio receiver and said alarm group, said radio
receiver energizing said alarm group from said first power supply
only when said radio receiver is activated by radio signals, said
light receiving apparatus having another said housing assembly and
a photosensitive device and a timer and another said alarm group
and a radio transmitter and a second power supply, means for said
radio signals being transmitted by said radio transmitter to be
received by said radio receiver, said second power supply coupled
to and providing energizing power said photosensitive device and
said timer and said another alarm group and said radio transmitter,
said timer controlling the time of energization of said another
said alarm group and the time that said radio transmitter transmits
said radio signals to said radio receiver, said another said alarm
group and said radio transmitter and said timer being energized by
said second power supply only when said photosensitive device
ceases to receive light emanated by said light source.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least
one optical filter element, and means to removable secure said at
least one filter element to said housing assembly at a location
intermediate said light source and said photosensitive device.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 therein at least one of said
first power supply and said second power supply comprises a
rechargeable battery.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a
rectifier, said rectifier being coupled to said rechargeable
battery.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least
one bubble-like level, said at least one level fixedly secured to
at least one of said housing assembly and said another said housing
assembly.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said
first power supply and said second power supply is disposed located
outside said housing assembly.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a lens,
said lens being disposed located adjacent said light source,
another lens, said another lens being disposed located adjacent
said photosensitive device.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rod,
said rod fixedly secured at one end thereof to said housing
assembly, the other end of said rod having a rubber-like grip
fixedly secured thereto.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tripod
comprises three legs, each of said three legs having a pair of
tubes, one tube of said pair of tubes lockingly telescopingly
engaged within the other tube of said pair of tubes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to light beam detectors and more
particularly to that class of apparatus whose mounting needs
facilitate locating such devices on any selected height relative to
a supporting surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art abounds with photoelectric devices utilized for a
variety of functions. U.S. Pat. No. 2,626,662 issued on Jan. 27,
1953 to J. E. Coogan teaches an alarm control for clocks and
photoelectric switches having an exciter lamp and transmitting lens
projecting outwardly from an enclosure to a receiving lens into a
photoelectric cell. Audible alarm means are provided within the
enclosure operable when the beam is broken as it transits between
lenses. An electric alarm clock is housed within the apparatus such
that once the alarm is turned to an on condition a solenoid
operated rod is caused to close a door in the housing so that
tampering with the housing to shut off the alarm clock is
prohibited. Any attempt to open the enclosure without breaking the
beam, usually placed over the foot of the bed, results in the alarm
apparatus being operated thereby forcing the user to get out of bed
at the appointed time without simply resetting the alarm and
falling off to sleep again.
The U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,332 issued on Apr. 3, 1951 to B. B.
Loveless et al describes a race starting apparatus utilizing
different audible signals so as to prepare and start the
contestants off at the beginning of a race. Included within the
apparatus is a photoelectric device which signals that one or more
of the athletes participating in the race had crossed the starting
line before the transmission of the final starting signal. Such
apparatus comprises a light source and a receiver within a housing
utilizing a light beam focused into and out of the housing
employing individual lenses. A reflecting device is provided in
another housing disposed opposite and transverse to the track at
the point of which the race is to be started.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,148 issued May 7, 1974 to F. W. Karsten et al
describes an indicator for detecting and indicating the intrusion
or presence of objects on a line or boundary being monitored by
officials or monitoring personnel, such as a boundary line at a
sporting event or contest. Mr. Karsten's teaching describes a
plurality of trained pulse beams of light emanating outwardly from
a light transmitting apparatus which in turn is received by a
photoelectric cell such that the light beam is interrupted at a
periodic controlled rate. Any further interruption, out of phase
with the periodicity of interruptions generated by the apparatus
comprises a breaking of the beam and hence the crossing of the
boundary line which the apparatus monitors.
The aforementioned teachings all suffer the common dificiency of
either having an apparatus which is expensive to fabricate or
difficult to install, or both. In any event, all of these devices
are hard to move from place to place so as to be adjustable easily
in installation for a variety of sporting events, including those
which require substantial height adjustments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a line
monitoring apparatus which may be easily adjusted as to location,
height and angle of use, providing thereby flexibility in the use
thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus
which is inexpensive to fabricate and reliable in use.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
boundary interruption detection apparatus which is portable in
nature and may be moved from place to place with a relative
ease.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
portable apparatus which is useful operating from household utility
voltage as well as from a rechargeable battery power supply.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be used that the beam transmitting device is
signaled by the beam receiving device so that the transmitting
portion of the present invention provides an alarm signaling that
the boundary line has been interrupted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a boundary
line monitoring system, which may be utilized with a duplicate
system, both providing a radio signal emanating outwardly thereform
such that a timing apparatus can be remotely located from the
installation site of both systems, thereby measuring the elapsed
time between crossing two displaced boundary lines.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be economically utilized, though rugged in use,
for sporting events wherein adjustment of height is critical.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus whose visual and audible alarm systems are energized for
a predetermined period of time when the monitored boundary line is
crossed instantaneously.
Heretofore, boundary line crossing detection systems have been
provided representing apparatuses that are difficult to install,
expensive to fabricate, and generally unsuitable for a wide variety
of athletic sports. The present invention, though inexpensive in
construction, provides a flexible way of monitoring the crossing of
a boundary line such as training in the track and field area of
athletes to monitor the height level of clearance over low or high
hurdles. This is highly desirable since if the athlete clears the
hurdle at excessive height, extra time is consumed and the race is
run far to slowly. Another use is in practice in training long
jumpers so that the elevation that the long jumper clears is
monitored. This eliminates the need for hurdles, lessening the
chance of injury. High jump practice similarly can be accomplished
without setting up a bar and resetting it after each time the bar
is knocked to the ground. Pole vaulting, difficult for beginners to
learn, can be practiced without a bar, therefore lessening the
danger and eliminating the need to reset the bar. Since many pole
vaulters are frightened of the bar, their attitude towards practice
is made positive thereby. The apparatus can also be employed as a
counting device. For example, laps can be counted in a long
distance race or in practice sessions. Timing may be measured by
utilizing a pair of sets of devices, each of which transmits, upon
the passing of the boundary line, a radio frequency signal. A slave
operated stop watch mechanism, or timer, may be activated by the
first transmitted frequency signal, and thence deactivated by the
second signal. Another use of the present invention is to obtain
time at a finish line. This device will audibly signal the first
man breaking the tape. The apparatus also may be employed as a
distance indicator such as signaling a runner that he is a given
distance from the finish line so that a sprinting effort may be
made thereafter.
The present invention basically uses a tripod device which may be
adjusted by having each leg extended so as to have the lower ends
rest on the ground so as to prevent further lateral motion. This
enables the apparatus to be utilized on a practice field, such as
those employed by schools and universities. Official monitoring,
taking place at a remote location, may utilize the radio signals
emanating outwardly from the transmitter portion of the
apparatus.
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention,
will become more readily apparent after reading the following
description of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the devices of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electrical and optical devices of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The structure and method of fabrication of the present invention is
applicable to two portable tripod supported units. Each unit may be
operated from an internal battery power supply, or, if desired, a
household utility operated rectifier assembly providing direct
current to a rechargeable battery system. Such external apparatus
is contained in a portable carrying case, having thereon a handle
for ease of carrying the device. A flexible coil cable
interconnects the external power supply to a housing affixed to the
top of the tripod. Each tripod is provided having three legs, each
including an inner tube and an outer tube telescopingly engaged to
one another and a hand operated knob which may lock the tubes
together at a desired height. The lowermost region of the lowermost
tube is secured to a wheel, permitting the tripod to be wheeled
from location to location. Such wheel is provided with a locking
apparatus, well known in the art that prevents the wheel from
further rotation when disposed in a locking condition. The
uppermost end of the tripod is provided with a platform, to which
the uppermost ends of the uppermost tubes are permanently secured.
A large tube extends downwardly and centrally from the platform in
the region intermediate the legs surrounding it. Such tube is
marked with indicia calibrated in distance. A crank handle is
secured to a shaft having the other end of the shaft geared to
rack-like teeth in the large tube such that the large tube may be
operated in an upward and downward direction by rotation of the
crank handle. At least one leg assembly, comprising the two tubes,
is similarly marked with indicia so as to permit a user to
determine the overall height of the platform relative to the
surface of the ground supporting the tripod. Above the tripod, a
housing mount is secured. The housing mount is provided with a
handle extending angularly downwardly outwardly therefrom. The free
end of the handle is provided with a rubber-like grip. A bar,
secured extending outwardly from the housing mount, may be operated
so as to lock the housing mount against tilting relative to the
plane of the earth supporting the tripod. The housing mounting is
also free to swivel, and may be locked into a nonswivelable desired
location by the operation of a knob-operated set screw. Thus, the
housing may be turned 360 degrees about an axis extending
longitudinally with the longitudinal axis of the large tube, as
well as being able to be tilted upwardly and downwardly relative to
such longitudinal axis dependent upon the position in which the
housing is set after loosening the set screw devices. The
embodiment of the housing utilizing internally operating batteries
is provided with an access panel for simple and convenient
replacement thereof. A light emitting dome, preferably fabricated
from a transparent material, is located on the uppermost surface of
the housing and contains a lamp therein. The lamp may be of the
incandescent variety or, if desired, of the photoflash type.
Another opening in the housing is covered with a grille-like
covering behind which, and within the housing, a audible alarm
apparatus is located. The audible alarm apparatus may be a buzzer,
horn, or electronic siren. One end of the housing is provided with
a lens assembly so that light beams entering or leaving the lens
assembly can be focused into a sharp beam whose tendency to diverge
is minimized. A radio antenna, preferably of the telescoping
variety, is disposed secured to an uppermost lateral surface of the
housing and extends upwardly therefrom.
The embodiment of the apparatus utilizing the external power pack
is provided with a receptacle through which the power from the
flexible electrical cable passes. A plug and receptacle may be
employed at this location. The lens opening located outwardly from
the housing is provided having a filter adapter fitting thereon.
Such filter adapter may be employed to fasten the fractionating
filters, "black-light" filters or the like. This facilitates
cutting down on receiving unwanted light signals in the receiver
apparatus which tends to interfere with the accuracy of responding
only to breaking the light beam. Still another embodiment of the
present invention utilizes the indicia displayed on the external
surface of the large tube and on the leg assembly supporting the
tripod being calibrated so as to reflect the center of the lens
apparatus relative to the ground supporting the tripod. A bubble
operated leveling device is provided on the surface of the housing
so as to enable a user to guarantee that the received or
transmitted light beam is operating in a horizontal plane only.
Such device is particularly helpful in operating the apparatus so
as to measure a predetermined height along a line extending the
distance in which both housings are separated.
Now refer to the figures, and more particularly to the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1 showing tripod 10 carrying housing 12
thereon. Tripod 14 is shown separated from tripod 10 and carries
housing 16 in the uppermost regions thereof. Dotted lines 18
represent a light beam transiting between lens assemblies 20 and
22, connected to housings 12 and 16 respectively. Wheels 24 are
shown at the lowermost ends of the tripods and are provided with
locking mechanisms 26 of the type well known in the art. Legs 28
provide support for platforms 30 attached to the uppermost tubes
32. Tubes 34 are shown extending downwardly from tubes 32, being
locked in a telescoping preferred position utilizing locking knobs
36 therefor, in a fashion well known to the art. Large tube 38 has
the uppermost regions 40 thereof extend through an opening in
platform 30, not shown. Smaller tube 42 is shown extending
downwardly from platform 30 having the uppermost end thereof
secured rigidly to housing support apparatus 44. Handle 46 utilizes
shaft 48, coupled to a spur gear, not shown, attached to an
externally toothed portion of smaller tube 42, not shown, such that
rotating handle 46 causes smaller tube to slide along the length of
larger tube 38. Indicia 50 is shown carried on the external surface
of large tube 38 as is indicia 52, carried on the external surface
of small tube 42. Indicia 54 is provided on the external surface of
lowermost leg members 34. Thus, the leg assembly may be modified in
height and the housing support member elevated above the tripod
platform 30, at the will of the user, so as to place housings 12
and 16 at any desired height relative to supporting surface 55.
Handle bar 56 is shown projecting outwardly on a portion of housing
support 44, having rubber-like grip 58 secured to end thereof. Knob
60 is secured at one end of rod 62, such that the other end of the
rod is provided having external threads thereon or engaging an
opening in housing support 44 and circular projection 64 extending
downwardly into a portion of housing support 44. Housings 12 and 16
may be rotated about axis lines 66 when rod 62 is loosened. When
knob 60 is tightened, protrusion 64 is prevented from rotating thus
limiting the angle of rotation of housings 12 and 16. Locking bars
68 serve to secure curved portions 70 from angular movement
relative to a horizontal line extending transverse to vertical
lines 66. Thus, an optical path of lenses 20 and 22, may be set at
any desired angle relative to supporting surface 55. Bubble-like
leveling devices 74, of conventional design, are shown secured to
an uppermost lateral surface 76 of housings 12 and 16, serving to
maintain such housings in a horizontal position when desired.
Access panel 78 utilizes set screw 80 to retain the panel onto a
surface of housing 12. A compartment, not shown, there behind
contains a battery power supply for the electrical apparatus housed
within housing 12. Housing 121, as shown, is the embodiment of the
present invention operating solely by battery power. If desired,
the battery, not shown, contained within housing 12 may be of the
rechargeable variety such that an external source of power may
charge the battery. Housing 16, as shown, utilizes power supply 82
having electrical cable 84 secured thereto. Cable 84 may be
removeable if desired by having socket 86 insert into receptacle
88. Plug 90 is shown at one end of the cable. Handle 92 facilitates
carrying power supply 82. Coiled flexible cable 94 provides
electrical energy, contained within power supply 82, to housing 12,
utilizing plug 94 inserted into receptacle 96, carried by housing
16. Grills 98 are shown carried by the housing and are utilized so
as to permit audible tones, generated within housings 12 and 16, to
be easily heard from a location outwardly therefrom. Lens
assemblies 20 and 22 include filter elements 100 located in the
outermost portions thereof. Such filter elements may be removeable
and be of a variety of types, including various colors, gratings,
as well as transmitting only ultraviolet light signals. External
lamps 102 are visible through lamp covers 104, fabricated from a
transparent material. Antennas 106 are shown carried by the
uppermost lateral surface 76 of housings 12 and 16. Housing 12 may
be utilized solely to transmit light in the direction of arrow 108
towards housing 16. Conversely, housing 16 can be utilized to
transmit light towards housing 12 in a direction opposite arrow
108, if desired. Housing 12 may be provided with power supply 82
and flexible cord 94. Alternately, housing 16 may be provided
without power supply 82 and flexible cable 94, utilizing batteries,
not shown, within housing 16 as the sole source of energy.
FIG. 2 illustrates dotted lines 110 depicting the electronic
components that may be housed in either housing 12 or 16, shown in
FIG. 1. Such apparatus is primarily used to transmit light beams to
a campanion apparatus, shown contained within dotted lines 112.
Dotted line 114 outlines the electrical components comprising power
supply 82, shown in FIG. 1. Power supply 116 is a battery
complement arranged so as to provide suitable electrical energy for
the operation of the lamp 118 and radio receiver 120, as well as
visual alarm 122 and audible 124. The audible alarm may be an
electrically operated horn, siren or other electronically activated
audible tone producing device. The visual alarm, depicted by
numerals 122, may be in the form of an incandescent lamp bulb,
depicted by numerals 102, as shown in FIG. 1. When switch 126 is
closed, lamp 118 is energized, simultaneously with radio receiver
120. Light beams 128 leave lamp 118 after passing through, in part,
filter 130 shown removeably secured and adjacent to lamp 118. When
radio receiver 120 receives a signal of a given frequency and
intensity and duration, visible alarm 122 and audible alarm 124 is
activated for the same time period. Photoelectric cell 132 is
covered in part by filter 134, acting on light beams 128 before
they engage the active portions of photocell 132. Rectifier 136 is
conventional in design and preferably includes a line voltage
operated step down transformer and a bridge rectifier circuit
connected to the secondary thereof. Battery 138, preferably of the
rechargeable variety, provides operating power for timer 140 and
audible alarm 142 and visual alarm 144, as well as radio
transmitter 146, when switch 148 is closed. When photocell 132 has
light beams 128 disengaged therefrom, such as by having the light
beams intercepted by part of a body of an athlete, photocell 132
signals timer 142 to commence a timing cycle. Simultaneously
therewith, audible alarm 142 and visual alarm 144 and radio
transmitter 146 are each energized. When timer 140 runs out,
audible alarm 142 ceases to sound and visual alarm 144 ceases to
emit light beams. Radio transmitter 146 will then turn off its
radiated power, such that radio receiver 120 will fail to receive
such signals cutting off the operation of visual alarm 122 and
audible alarm 124. Thus, visual alarms 122 and 144 and audible
alarms 124 and 146 will operate together only during the time that
radio transmitter 146 transmits a signal to radio receiver 120.
Such time is controlled by timer 140.
One of the advantages of the present invention is to provide a line
monitoring apparatus which may be easily adjusted as to location,
height and agle of use, providing thereby flexibility in the use
thereof.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which is inexpensive to fabricate and reliable in
use.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a
boundary interruption detection apparatus which is portable in
nature and may be moved from place to place with a relative
ease.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a
portable apparatus which is useful operating from household utility
voltage as well as from a rechargeable battery power supply.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be used such that the beam transmitting device
is signaled by the beam receiving device so that the transmitting
portion of the present invention provides an alarm simultaneously
with the alarm signaling that the boundary line has been
interrupted.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a boundary
line monitoring system which may be utilized with a duplicate
system both providing a radio signal emanating outwardly therefrom
such that a timing apparatus can be remotely located from the
installation site of both systems, thereby measuring the elapsed
time between crossing two displaced boundary lines.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be economically utilized, though rugged in use,
for sporting events wherein adjustment of height is critical.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus whose visual and audible alarm systems are energized for
a predetermined period of time when the monitored boundary line is
crossed instantaneously.
Thus, there is disclosed in the above description and in the
drawings, an embodiment of the invention which fully and
effectively accomplishes the objects thereof. However, it will
become apparent to those skilled in the art, how to make variations
and modifications to the instant invention. Therefore, this
invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein,
but only by the appending claims.
* * * * *